Leave a Legacy
When you think about your life’s purpose, the difference you’ve made, and how you can leave the world a better place, do you think about your love for animals? If so, a gift in your will to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society might be part of your legacy.
Let Your Love for Animals Live Forever
By remembering the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society in your will, you can:
Provide funding for animal care while pets wait for their forever families.
Spay/neuter animals to prevent pet overpopulation.
Fund the medical and enrichment needs of the animals while in our care, keeping them as comfortable as possible.
Assist caretakers in managing feral cat colonies.
Reduce overpopulation in the North by transporting animals in need of homes to centres around the province where they can be adopted.
Ensure that our education programs continue, teaching compassion and empathy to the next generation.
Your gift in will or estate plan will go directly to the programs you may have supported already in your lifetime. You can also choose to dedicate your gift to a particular area of the work you care so much about.
What You Need to Know to Make a Gift in Your Will
Important Information
Legal Name: Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Charitable Registration Number: 88969 1044 RR0002
Address: 16586 Woodbine Avenue, Stouffville, ON, L4A 2W3
Choose a Residual or Fixed Gift
Residual Gift
This is a percentage of everything you own, minus any debts. Another way to think of a residual gift is to think of your estate like a pie, with slices going to your family and loved ones, a slice for outstanding debts, and another slice to your charities of choice. If you’re ready to commit to animal welfare, but you’re uncertain about your future financial needs, a residual gift will enable your estate to meet all of your wishes.
Sample wording: “I give to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [insert value] percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate for its general purposes.”
What is a codicil? A codicil is a legal document used to make minor changes or additions to an existing will without invalidating the entire document.
Fixed Amount Gift
You can designate a fixed amount of money to be given to the Ontario SPCA. This language confirms a specific dollar amount that you would leave for the animals in your will.
Sample wording: “I give to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the sum of $______ to be used for its general purposes.”
3. Speak to a Professional Advisor
At the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, we work closely with financial advisors, accountants, lawyers, and other allied professionals. We deeply value our relationship with you and are happy to assist you and your client with making a planned gift.
Please feel free to call or email us with any questions you may have.
Talk to Us
If you would like to discuss the best giving option for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would be pleased to support you through the process of making your gift to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.
Director, Legacy Giving
905-285-6873
[email protected]
Estate Administration Officer
1-888-668-7722 ext. 324
[email protected]
Other Legacy Giving Options
Make a gift of life insurance
There are two ways to structure your gift of life insurance. You can name the Ontario SPCA as a beneficiary of your existing life insurance policy or you can transfer ownership of your policy to the Ontario SPCA, which may provide immediate tax benefits while securing your gift for tomorrow. By working with your financial planner, you can choose the option that best fits your goals and receive potential tax advantages today while creating a future of compassion for animals.
Make a gift through a registered plan
You may choose to designate the Ontario SPCA as a beneficiary of a registered fund or plan. We recommend you work with your professional advisors to choose what makes the most sense for you, your loved ones, your estate and tax planning.
For other options, please contact Sarah Zachariah at [email protected]
Join the Animal Advocate Circle
When you plan a future gift to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, you help build a world where vulnerable animals are met with safety, care, and love – no matter what tomorrow brings.
By sharing your intentions with us, you become part of the Animal Advocate Circle – a special group of supporters and like-minded individuals who believe in making a difference for animals beyond their lifetime through a gift in will or estate plan. A gift in will is more than a donation – it’s a promise for the future.
To join, contact Sarah Zachariah at 905-285-6873 or email [email protected]
Legacy Giving FAQs
Who can leave a gift in their will?
Many people think that including a gift to charity in their will is something only the wealthy can do. That isn’t true at all! Most of us don’t have a lot of cash to give today, but we may have assets that we won’t need after we’re gone. Anyone can leave a gift of any size in their will to a cause they are passionate about. Nearly 1.5 million Canadians already have. After you’ve ensured your loved ones are provided for, you can make a gift in your will to ensure that your love of animals lives on. It’s as simple as that.
Isn’t it better to help now, and not later?
A gift in your will offers a different way of providing for animals. It is often a way for you to give much more than you would be able to in your lifetime. That’s because a gift in your will includes all of your assets, including things like real estate or investments, which are often overlooked when you think about how much money you have. When you think about your estate, you will likely find that your total net worth is more than you thought. This means you can help even more animals than you ever thought possible.
Why is it important to leave a gift to charity in my will?
A gift in your will is important for two reasons. First and foremost, it’s a way for you to leave a lasting footprint of kindness and compassion on the world. Donors often tell us how wonderful they feel to know that their love of animals and the need to protect them can live on, even after they’re gone.
Second, it creates vital funding to protect animals and ensure that they will find their forever homes. Gifts in wills, or what is also known as a charitable bequest, can create a lasting change that will improve animal welfare for generations of animals.
How will the Ontario SPCA use my gift?
We promise to use your gift wisely and carefully, to provide care, comfort and compassion to animals in need across Ontario. Your gift could save the lives of animals. It could provide homes for animals. It could spay and neuter animals that desperately need it. The possibilities of what you can achieve are enormous.
How can I leave a gift to charity and provide for my loved ones?
There are lots of ways to make sure your loved ones are taken care of, along with remembering a charity in your will. A popular option is called a residual gift. That means you take care of your loved ones, along with any debts, before leaving whatever is left to your charities of choice.
What if I already have a will?
If you already have a will, and you’d like to add a gift to the Ontario SPCA, you can use a special legal document called a codicil to amend your will. To see sample codicil language, please go to our section on updating your will.